Safety appliance for washing machines



0ct. 11, 1932. J. H. sKlTT l SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed May 1, 1929 s sheets-sheet 1 Oct. 11, 1932. J, H,'5K|TT 1,881,974

- SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR WASHING MACHINESl Filed May l, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mk f i l f vs 1'.' JY ITM/entor- Oct. 11, 1932. l J. H, sKrrT 1,881,974

SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed May 1, 1929 s sheets-sheet s jy James /ZS/'l, @M0

Patented Oct. 11, 1932` UNITED-STATES JAMES E. sxI'r'r, on PHILADELPHIA, rENNsYLvANIafAssIGivoR frofsnrIf1H, DRUM & COMPANY, 0E PHILADELPHIA, PEIIITSYLVAITIA,l A coEPoRATIoNQE PENNSYLVANIA j SAFETY ArPLIANcE VEon wAsn'Iitd {IltAcHINEsi Application mea May 1,192,15. lfseriai'ivo. 'asanfs'ssy y t ,c tends through the ends of the casing fand has My invention relates to washing or dyeing machines orthe like consisting of a casing provided with a Sliding door, a container'rotatably supported within the casing and a motor forV actuating'the container. The object of-my invention is toprovide asimple` Y and efficient locking device adapted to lock the door in closed position and to so interengage with the door when the door is Wholly or partly open that it cannot be moved'to locking position and to so connect this locking device with a switch controlling the motor circuit that the switch can only be turned to close the circuit when the door is closed and locked. By preference I actuate both the lock and the switch through the switch handle lever and by preference also I so connect the switch handle lever with a brake for arresting the motion of the motor thatV the motion of the switch handle lever to open the circuit and retract the lock will apply the brake and my invention consists of the combinations of mechanisms by which I eiect the above stated purposes.` Y The nature of my invention will be best understood as described in connection with the drawings which illustrate a washing machine provided with my improvements and in which f Figure l is an end elevation of the washing machine with portions of the casing broken away to exhibit details of construction. f

Figure 2 is in effect a fragmentary enlargement of parts shown in Figure l. l Figure 3 is a side elevation of the switch boX and parts immediately connected therewith. l

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken through the switch box on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a view illustrating the details of the transmission mechanism connecting the Vswitch handle lever with the lock and thel brake drum.

Figures 6, 7, and 8, are views shown partly in section showing the operation of the lock in connection with the door of the casing.

In the washing machine shown in the drawings, which is, generally speaking, of a familiar type, A indicates the casing, B the container secured` to a shaft ,B1V which `eX- secured to it agear wheel B2 which isengagedby a gear-B3, driven in-turn by Ya pinion B4, which pinion is actuated bya` gear'Bf, driven in turn byv a pinion B6 secured on the shaft of the motor indicated-at C. C1, Figure 2,`indivCA cates the brake strap which is actuated by a lever C2 which in turn lis actuated by the connecting rod'F. D indicates the switch fboXf' or casing, rwhich,-as shown in Fig.l 4,- is 'pro-t vided with four contact members indicated Y at VD1 and D2. D3 indicates a rotary switch drum provided with contacts, indicated at y D4- land D5, 4whichare-'movedout `from be` .shaft E1 to which isv also secured lthe switch which al'soextends the lever armsFa: and F4.

F5 vand F6 indicate connecting rods ofwhich the rod'F,5 is secured to an arm G of Va bell crank lever: G, G2, pivotedat G1 and having attached to or formed with the arm G,2 al

lockingy bolt Vindicated at G3.

4vH, see Figures 6, 7, and 8,'isthe sliding door of the casing, the upper endofwhich is indicated at H1 and which moves in guideways at the sideof theicasing, indicated at 'AH-A2 indicating an vOpening through the casing which isuncovered bythe doorwhen in fully .closed position, as shown inFigures 7 and 8, and is closed by the door when the door isopened .as-shown lin Figure 6. 3

I 1 The operationrof the device can be readily followed Hwhenthe door is fully closed, vas shown' in Figures 7 and-18; the switch handle lever; El can .be movedv towardsV the position shown in Figures ,1 and 2. This movement of the switch: handle lever moves the lock tofthelpositionshown in Figure 8, thebolt G3 passing in front of the upper end of the' sliding door H and securelyv locking it in closed position;V further movement of the4 switch handle lever releases the brake band,

2g i: Y 1,881,974

closes the ycircuit and energizes the motor to start the machine.

Whenever-it is desired to open the doorv the switch handle lever must be moved tol wards the position shown in Figure'. This movementvhofthe lever handle opensthe circuit, applies the brake and finallyirwithdraws' the locking holt to a position which permits the door to begopened. The door Ymaytheii be opened, the `loolt-.loein'g Yin themposition' Y shown inFigure, and the door "then passes beneath the bolt, eiectnallylocking it and through it the switchhandle levenand Vthel Y I brake band so thatl the motor kcan not be started untilthe door is again fully closed.A`

Y Itvis .-advisableinmachines of this kind to ,Y provide for what is called inchingof. the container so as to. bring the door of the container into registry with the door of the casing and this canfb'e e'ected by alternately 4opening andclosing the circuit, energizing; the motor v which .can be done when the bolt is 'in the intermediater positionshown in Figure 7., in

lwhich position or transmission to which 'pof sitionit still securelylocks the door in closed position but permits the switch lever to open and close themotor circuit. f

Having now-described my invention, what I claimk as new and desire to secure byLetters -Patent, is: Y

1.In a washing machine consisting of ac asing Vhaving a sliding door, a container roe tatably secured in lsaid casing and a motor for actuating said container, the combination therewith of a lockoperativeto directly interengage with andtlock the door of the casn ing when it is in closed position, and so .interthe casing.

enga-gable with the bodyof the door when the lock is in rretracted position that it isheld in retracted position when the door is Wholly or partly open, m'eans for opening and-fclosing the lockV and a switchffor yopeningand closing the motor-circuit 'connected to .the ymeans for actuating the locklso as tofop'en the circuit before the :lockisretracted and prevent the closing-of the circuit'while the sliding ,door is open. e Y v 2; A Washing machine rhaving thel features of claim l, having also a brake for stopping the motor and a connection to thev means for actuating the lock and switch ywhereby .the brake is applied after the circuit is opened and as the lock is retracted.k f

3. A machine having the features-of claim 7 l, in which the switch handl'elever is *connecte ed to actuate the door lock.. f

4. A machine having the features 1.of cla/im l, in which the lock consists -ofa bolt secu-red on abell crank lever pivotedon the body of e e j sni'rr. 

